Compensating device for ribbon-feeding mechanism.



G. T. TRUNDLE.

GOMPENSATING DEVICE FOR RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

1,1 15,991; Patented Nov. 31914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- flax/10%;

G. T. TRUNDLE.

GOMPENSATING DEVICE FOR RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. 1'. TRUNDLE.

(JOMPENSATING DEVIGE FOR RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

1,1 15,991, Patented N07. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GEORGE .I'. TRUNDLE, OE CLEVELAND,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MULTI- GRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMPENSATING- DEVICE FOR RIBBON-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed June 21, 1913. Serial No. 774,976.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. TRUNDLE, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in (.lornpensating Devices for Ribbon-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This device relates to printing devices in which the ink for the impression is carried.

by an inked fabric periodically fed to bring a fresh face to the type. i

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device enabling the fabric to be-wound on and paid off of a spool as the printing member reciprocates, while accommodating itself to a gradual fed of the ribbon tobring a fresh face to the type.

0 this end, the invention consists of a peculiar combination of spring re-winder and frictional-slip device for the take-up spool. This will be hereinafter more fully explained and the essential characteristics set out in the claims.

' as embodied with 1 y compensating device is shown herein an oscillating printing machine adaptedto print circular letters with changeable addresses. One stroke of the machine is designed to print the letter and address, and the opposite stroke thereof to uncover the address from the IlbbOIl, so

that the address plate may be conveniently.

removed, and another one substituted for it.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a printing machine equipped with my compensating device; F ig. 2 is a vertical transverse ection of the same on a plane parallel with Fig. 1 looking in the op osite direction; Fi of 3 is a front elevation such printing mac ine, sectioned axially of the platen; Fig. 4 is an axial section of the compensating device; and Fig. 5 is an end view of such device.

' Referring by numerals to the parts shown in the drawings 10 and 11 indicate the up: right end plates of the frame connected by a base portion 12. Rotatably mounted between the end plates is a drum 13. This drum, as shown, consists of a segment carryingparallel overhanging rails 14 (a few of which are indicated in Fig. 2) adapted to hold lines of grooved type. The segment is shown as removably mounted on a rotatable shaft with the members 16 and 17. The segment is shown as locked to the shaft b a hook 18. Coactmg with the type on the drum is a rotary platen 20, which is shown as loosely journaled on a shaft 21 having eccentric extensions journaled in the frame plates 10 and 11. A detented lever 23 on the end of the shaft 21 furnishes means for swinging that shaft to adjust the presentation of the platen to the printing drum. The platen and drum are geared together by a gear 30 on the drum, meshing with a gear 31 connected with the platen. Any suitable means may be employed to osclllate the drum and platen, as, for example, the crank 33 on the projecting end of the shaft 15.

To supply ink to the type carried on the.

printing drum, I mount within the drum (thatis, between the rotary end members 16 and 17) a ribbon spool 40. An inked fabric 41 is wound on this spool and extends from it, toward the front of the machine, about the edge of th out spool 43, which is shown as carried by the stationary frame in front of and near the top of the drum.

, A. suitable friction device is provided between the platen 20 and its shaft 21, the effect of which is to cause the rotation of the platen in the printing direction to turn the platen, to raise the'plateninto engaging position, while a reverse rotation of the platen turns down the shaft into idle position. In this movement, the detent lever 23 swings from the oif to the on position. These positions are determined by the positions of an adjustable arcual bar 45 (Fig. .1), which is locked by a set screw 46 and has depressions 47 and 48 in which the end of a spring-pressed plunger 49 on the detent lever is adapted to seat. To provide the desired friction between the platen and its shaft, I make a groove -in the shaft and mount therein a double leaf spring 50, which bears against the inner wall of the platen, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. 7

With the construction described, if the crank 33 is rotated in the left hand direction in Fig. 1 (right hand in Fig. 2) the paper fed between the drum and platen may be printed by the type on the drum acting through the ribbon against the platen.

The matter on the drum may consist of a circular letter of type and an address carframe consisting of the shaft 15 and the end e type segment to the pay- 1 tated far enough to print the sheet and dispresent a I bon feed mechanism charge it from between the drum and platen, a reverse rotation of the drum (left hand direction in Fig. 2 turns down the platen and carries the address plate to a position adjacent to the top of the machine, where it is uncovered by the fabric. This enables the address plate to be readily changed bv hand as desired.

The present invention provides means for taking up and paying out the rear or upper end of the fabric which is mounted on the spool 43. One of the features of this mechanism is that it accommodates the periodic feeding of the ribbon onto the spool 40 to fresh face to'the type. It will be convenient to first describe briefly the-ribherein illustrated.

In the present machine it isconvenient to supply means on the drum for holding and feeding a spool additional to the spool 40, so that, when desired, the spool 43, instead pf being mounted on the frame, may 'be mounted on the drum, and the machine used like a standard multigraph. Fig. 2 shows the spool 40 in the drum and a ratchet wheel 68 designed to carry the spool 43 but idle when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. The spool 40 is mounted on a ratchet wheel 69. Coiiperating with the re spective ratchet wheels are pawls 62 and 63, which arereciprocated automatically as the drum rotates. It is to be understood that, as shown in Fig. 2 only the pawl 63 is active and the pawl 62, which might cooperate with the ratchet 68, is idle.

To automatically reciprocate the pawls, as well as to cause them to shift from the full to the emp y spool automatically, I. may employ the mechanism shown, described and claimed in Patent No. 997,615, granted July 11, 1911, to The American Multigraph Company as assign of H C Gammeter. Only so much of that mechanism as is here concerned is shown in the drawings, and reference is made to that patent for a fuller description. As shown in the drawings,

' there is a bar yoking around the main shaft and reciprocable in a radial direction and carrying a plate 61, on which are pivoted the pawls 62 and 63, which are under the influence of the spring 64. Suitable means (as an eccentric strap surrounding a stationary eccentric) connected with the reciprocating bar causes the pawl carrier to reciprocate.

' through the head In the present invention 1 provide a detent pawl 66 adapted to engage the ratchet Wheel 69 to hold the gain made in feeding the spool 40. This pawl is shown as pressed against the ratchet 69 by a spring 67 which acts on a tail of the pawl and enables it to be swung over into the opposite direction entirely free-from the ratchet 69. This is the position of the pawl when the spool 43 is mounted on the drum and the automatic ribbon reverse employed.

My compensating device proper is of the form shown in detail in Fig. 4, and consists of mechanism carried within the journal box 70 and having a gear 71 meshin with the main gear 30. The journal box 0 has cars 73 extending from it by which it is secured to the frame plate 10. The gear 71 has a hubor flange 75 by which it is jour-v naled within the journal box 70. At the other end of this box is a collar 76 having a similar hub 77 journaled within the bore of the. box. The two hubs are connected together by a helical spring 80 anchored at its ends to .the respective hubs. \Vithin the gear 71 and collar 76 is mounted the sleeve 82. This sleeve is by the set screw 83.' The sleeve has an extended disk-like head with a smooth locked to the collar 76 v outer face. Against this face bears a fiber and on the outer side of this washer is a head 87. Extending 87 through the washer 86 and into the bore of the sleeve 82 is a pin 90. This pin hasahead portion'91, which seats in a similar recess in the outerface of the head 87, and then comes a cylindrical portion, and then a smaller cylindrical portion 92. The opposite, end of the latter portion is internally threaded, and carries a screw 94 which has a head overhanging the space between the reduced portion 92 and the sleeve 82. In this space is a helical spring 95 compressed between the head 94 and an inward projection or flange 96 of the sleeve 82. This spring 95 serves to establish friction between the head 87 and the head 85, the frictional wear coming on the washer 86' and the amount of this friction being regulated by the screw 94.

The central pin 90 of the compensator has a short stud 97 extending toward the other end of the machine, e head 87 has an.

or other washer 86,

and th eccentrically positioned stud 98 in the same. direction. The spool 43 has a central opening which is journaled on the stud 97, and one of its heads has which receives the pin 98. Accordingly, the spool and head 87 are interlocked to revolve together. The spool is pressed in this direction by reason of the engagement of a spring pressed plunger 100 (Fig. 3) with the other end of the spool. This plunger is shown as mounted in a bracket 101 on the frame plate 11. The plunger is pro vided with a head 102,15 which it may be an eccentric opening the ribbon fed by t From the above description it will be" 55 80 under tension almost to drawn outwardly to free the spool. A compression spring 103 tends to force the plunger inwardly to maintain engagement with the spool.

-lVith the construction described, the gear 7.1. turns the spool 43 in the unwinding direction when the drum is turned forwardly to print. As the diameter of the ribbon roll on the spool 43 is ordinarily less than that of the pitch circle of the gear 7l,'it follows that the spool is not unwound by means of a gear as fast as the drum pulls the ribbon from the spool. Accordingly,tl1e spool itself must turn faster, and this is accomplished by the spring connection 80 between the gear and the spool, this spring being wound up as the ribbon pulls off from the spool.

By the time the printing stroke is completed the spring 80 has been put under an increased tension by the pull of the ribbon as described. Now when, the direction of the stroke is reversed at the end of the printing operation, the gear 71 winds the spool 43 in the direction to take up the ribbon. This movement of the drum delivers the ribbon to this take-up spool faster than the gear would wind in that spool, and thence the spring 80 unwinding, gives the rest of the'rotation to thespool, so that it takes up the drum.

apparent that the ribbon plays off of and on to the spool 43 as the drum is fed forwardly or backwardly. As this movement, however, is a compound of that given by the gearing andby the spring, a much more constant tension is kept on the ribbon than if the sprin supplying such tension were anchored to a xed point.

The ribbon feed mechanism on the drum is so set that, on the rearward stroke of the drum the receiving spool 40 is turned one tooth of the ratchet. Accordingly, not as much fabric goes back onto the s 001 43 as came off of it. The result of this is that, with each stroke, the tendency is to wind the spring 80 tighter. To prevent the s'pringtcnsion becoming excessive or interfering with the feed, the frictional slip device described is provided. As soon as the tension of 'the spring reaches the desired maximum, the head 87 connected with the spool sim 1y slips on or with the washer 86, instea of transmitting movement to the spring 80. Accordingly, the spring tension on the ribbon is constantly maintained approximately constant.

The friction controlling the slip is adjusted by the screw 94, so that the slippa e substantially corresponds to the perio 1c feed of the ribbon. That is to say, if there were not periodic feed, the ulling of the ribbon oil of the spool 43, won (1 put the spring the point where the slippage would take place. Then, as the ribbon is taken up by the ribbon feed on the reverse stroke, there is, on the succeeding forward stroke, enough slippage of the frie tional clutch to compensate for the shortening of the reach of the ribbon.

The feeding of the ribbon from the spool 43 to the spool 40, is, of course, very gradual. When the ribbon has accumulated entirely on the s 001 40 at the end of a large number 0' printing strokes, the machine is stopped and the two spools are removed and interchanged in position. Then the operation is continued as before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination, with a printing couple having rolling contact for printing a plurality of lines, of an inking fabric, a spool on which one end of the fabric is wound, and from which it may be pulled, means for so pullingthe fabric by an amount corresponding to the printing contact of the couple, aspring adapted to apply tension to the spool, and means for bodily moving the spring at a slower rate than the ,movement of the spool controlled by the pull of the fabric.

2. The combination, with a printing couple having rolling contact, of an inking fabric fed forward during such contact, a

1 spool on which one end of the fabric is wound, a spring barrel adapted to apply tension to the spool, and means for bodily rotatin the spring barrel independently of the pul of the fabric.

3. The combination, of a movable type bed, an inking fabric connected at one end with the bed, a rotatable spool on which the other end of the fabric is wound and from which it may be pulled by the movement of the type bed, a spring barrel adapted to apply tension to the spool, and means for bodilyrrotating the spring barrel at a slower rate than the rotation ofthe spool controlled bythe fabric pulling from it. 4. The combination ofa movable type bed, a platen adapted to cooperate with t e bed, a fabric extendin between them and being fed forward durmg the printing operation, a spool carryingtherear endof t e fabric, a rotatable driver for said spool, and a spi'ing interposed between the driver and s 00 5. The combination of a printing couple, an inkin fabric, a spoolcarrying one end of such abric, a driver, and a spring connecting the same with said spool, said driver being adapted to turn the spring in the same direction as the ribbon pulling off of the s 001 turns the spool. y

6. llhe combination of a movable type bed, a platen coacting therewith, an inking. fabric having one end carried by the bed, a spool carrying the other end of such fabric, a 130 off of it as the printlng ,member moves,\a

being geared with the movable bed.

rotatable driver, and a spring connecting the same with said spool, said driver being adapted to turn the spring in the same direction as the ribbon pulling oif of the spool turns the spool, 7

7 The combination of a printing member, a cooperating platen, an inking fabric extending between the same, means for pulling the forward end of the fabric, a rotatable spool for carrying the rear end of the fabric, said spool being rotated by the fabric passing on of it as member moves forward, a spring connecte with said spool, and gearing between the spring and the printing member.

8. The combination of a printing member, a cooperating platen, an inking fabric extending between the same, a rotatable spool carrying one end of the fabric, said spool being rotated by the fabric passing coiled spring, one end of 1 which is connected with the spool, and a gear connected with the other end of the spring, said gear 9(The combination of a movable bed, a cooperating platen, an inking fabric extending between the same, meansfor holding the forward end of the fabric to the bed, a rotatable spool for carrying "the rear end of the fabric, said s oolbeing rotated by the fabric passing 0 of it as the bed moves forward, a coiled spring, one *end of which is connected with the spool, and a gear connected with the other end of the spring, said gear being geared with the movable bed.

(10. The combination of'a printing drum, a gear thereon, a platen coacting with the drum, an inking fabric adaptedto extend between the drum and platen, means for carrying the fabric a spool on which one end of the fabric is wound, a gear connected with the gear on the drum, and a spring and slip connection between the spool and its gear.

j -11. The combination of a printing drum, a gear thereon, a platen coacting with the drum, a fabric adapted to extend ,between' the drum and'platen, a spool on the drum carrying one end of the fabric, a spool on whichthe other end of the fabricis wound, a gear connected with the gear on the drum, and a spring between-the last mentioned spool and its gear.

12, The combination of a printing drum having a gear, a gear meshing therewith, a spool, a spring connectedat one endwit h the spool and at the other end with the gear last mentioned, and a fabric mounted on such'spool and adapted to coact with the dru n. 7

13. The combination of a printing-drumhaving a gear, a gear meshing therewith, .a .spool, aspring connected at 011.6 e d w th the printing (1' direction when the ribbon is fed back toforward with the drum,

the fabric is wound, means the spool and at the other end with the gear last mentioned, a spool carried by the drum, and a fabric mounted on said spools.

14. The combination of a movable printing bed, a ribbon spool mounted thereon,

means for periodically feeding said spool to wind up the ribbon thereon, a pay-out spool mounted on fixed axis, a spring connected with the last mentioned spool, and means for bodily rotating said spring in the unwinding direction when the ribbon is pulled off ofits spool and in the winding ward such spool.

15. The combination of an oscillating printing drum, a ribbonspool mounted thereon, means for periodically feeding said spool. to wind up the ribbon thereon,

a pay-out spool mounted independently of 1 the drum,- a coiled spring connected with the last mentioned .spool, and means for bodily rotating said spring in the u'nwinding direction when the ribbon is pulled off of its spool, and in the winding direction when the ribbon is fed back toward such spool.

1 6. The combination of an oscillating printing drum having a gear, a gear driven thereby, a spool, a coiled spring connected at one end with the spool and at the other end with the gear lastmentioned, a spool mounted on the drum, means for periodically turning the last mentioned spool, and a fabric mounted on said spools.

17 The combination of a movable print- 1m ing bed, a ribbon spool mounted thereon, means for periodically feeding said spool to wind up the ribbon thereon, a pay-out spool mounted on a fixed axis, a coiled spring connected with the last mentioned ios spool, means for bodily rotating said spring in the unwinding direction when the ribbon is pulled ofl' of its spool, and in the winding direction when the ribbon is fed back toward such spool, and a slip connection between the spring and its spool.

, 18. The combination of a movable printing memberya cooperating platen, an inked fabric extending between the two, a spool on which the forward end of the fabric is wound, means for periodically rotating said spool to wind in the fabric, another spool on which the rear end of the fabric is mounted, and mechanism for rotating--- the last mentioned spool, said mechanism including a spring enabling the s'oolto turn faster than the rotating mec anism would turn it.

19 The combination of a movable print ing drum, a cooperating platen, an inked fabric extending between the two, a s 001 on the drum on which the forward en of for periodically rotating said spool to wind in the fabric, another spool on which the rear-end of the frying one end of the fabric,

fabric is mounted, and mechanism geared with the drum for rotating. the last mentioned spool, said mechanism including a spring enabling the spool to turn faster than the rotating mechanism would turn it and a slip .connection between the spring and its spool.

20. The combination of a movable printing member, an inking fabric, a spool carmeans for periodically rotating said spool to wind in the fabric, a spool carryin the other end of the fabric, andgearing etween the last mentioned spool and the printing member, said gearing including a spring enabling the spool to turn at a different speed from the gearing.

21. The combination of a movable typecarrying member, a cooperating platen, a

fabric extendingbetween the two, a spool on which the forward end of, the fabric is turning said s wound, means for periodically turning said spool to wind in the fabric, aspool on which the rear end of the fabric connected with the printing member, and a helical spring between last mentioned s 001.

22. The comblnation of a movable typecarrying drum, a coeperating platen, a fabric extending between the two, a spool on the drum on which the forward end of the fabric is wound, means for periodically spool on the rame on which the rear end of the fabric is wound, a gear connected with the printing drum, a helical spring be- .tween said gear and the last mentioned spool, and a slip connection between said spring and the last mentioned spool.

23. The combination of a movable printing member, a spool mounted thereon, means for periodically rotating said spool,

an inking fabric wound on saidspool, a

second spool on which the other end of the fabric is wound, a rotary member geared with the rinting member and alining with said spoo and a coiled spring having one end connected with the rotary member and the other end with its alined spool. I

24. The combination of a movable printing -member, a spool mounted thereon, means for periodically rotating said spool,

an inking fabric wound on said spool, a

second spool on which the other end of the member geared with the printin member and alining with 'said second spoo a helical spring, one end of which is connected with said rotary member, a friction device connected with the other end of said spring, and a cooperating friction device connected with the last men.- tioned s 001.

25. T e combination of a movable printing drum having a gear, a ribbon spoolmounted in the drum, means for automatiis wound, a gear said gear and the 001 to wind in the fabric, a

outside spool.

' 26. The combination, with a printing couple, of a fabric through which impressions may be made, a spool on which said fabric is wound, and a compensating device connecting said spool with one member of the couple, said device consisting of a'spring, a slip connection and gearing.

27. The combination, with a printing couple, of a fabric through which impressionsmay be made, a spool on which said fabric is wound, a compensating device connecting said spool with one member of the couple, said device consisting of a gear connected with the couple, a helical spring, one end of which is connectedwith the gear, a friction device with which the other end of the spring is connected, and a cooperating friction member connected with the spool.

28. The combination, with a printing couple, of a fabric through which impressions may be made, a spool'on whichsaid fabric is wound, a compensating device connecting said spool with one member of the couple, said device consisting of a stationary journal box, a friction head having an extension rotatable within the box, a rotatable gear, a helical spring surrounding the extension end connected at one end tothe extension and at the other end to the gear, a cooperating friction device, and a connection between it and the spool,

29. The combination of a movable print, ing member, an inking fabric, adapted to be fed forward as the member rints, a spool, on which one end of the fabric is wound, a compensating spring barrel connected with said spool and coinprising a stationary journal box, a gear having a hub journaled within the box, a friction head having a sleeve journaled within the hub, a spring conneetedat one end to th hub and at the other end to the sleeve, a cooperating friction head connected with the spool, acentralv in for holding said heads in frictiona engagement, a compression spring surrounding said pin within the bore of, the sleeve, 7 and means for adjusting the compression of said spring.

30. The combination, with a printing couple, of an inking fabric, a spool on which the same is wound, and a compensating spring barrel for unwinding or winding up the ribbon according to the movement of the couple, comprising a pair of friction members, a compression spring, and an adjusting screw for varying the friction, one member of such friction device. being eonscrew for adjusting said spring, another spring connected with the other member of 15 said friction couple, and a gear' connected with a movable member of the printing couple and having'the other end of the last mentioned spring connected to it.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix 20 my signature in the presence of two wit nesses.

GEORGE T. TRUNDLE.

Witnesses:

I H. H. GRIFFIN, ALBERT H. BA'rEs. 

